Meter.



L. E. BAKER.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.26 I915.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

' A TTORNE YS.

WITNESSES L. E. BAKER.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.26, 1915.

1 ,278,825. Patented Sept. 17,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- g- I VENTOR WITNESSES: I g

/ %g% QW/ W W A TTORNE YS.

L. E. BAKER.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.2s. i915.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918..

3 SHEET$-SHEET 3.

' .JI NVENTOR.

WITNESSES A/y /L;

lltl

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINNAEUS E. BAKER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WAYNE OIL TANK AND PUMP (10., A COBPQBATION OF INDIANA.-

METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

. Application filed October 26, 1915. Serial No. 57,940.

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Meters, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to mprovements in counting apparatus 'for liquid dispensing,

pumps of that class ordinarily employed in retailing gasolene and oils, and is applicable particularly to that type of vending pump in which the pump-rod has fixed thereto a rack-bar that 'is actuated by a gear and crank mechanism. Tn this type or pump it is the intent that upon each cycle of its action a definite unit quantity of liquid will he moved through and discharged from it, and generally adjustment means are provided in. pumps of this class for limiting the stroke of the plunger exactly so that the intended unit quantity er liquid will he discharged upon the complete operation of the pump; no more and no less.

The object of the present invention is to afiord a device that when applied to a dispensing pump will accurately register each and every discharge stroke, and each and every fractional portion of the discharge strokes in order to prevent fraudulence upon the part of the operator. The invention herein set forth is devised with the purpose of registering the progression at all stages oi the action of the pump which results in discharge of fluid therethrough.

And a further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the registering apparatus relative to the pumping mechanism so as to compensate for any differences in the extent of the movement of the latter that may occur in'any adjustments made in the stroke of the pump to secure an accurate quantitative discharge therefrom.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichz Figure 1 is an end view of the counting apparatus showing its connection with the rack-bar of a pump;

Fig. 2 is a projected view of Fig. 1 show-- ing a portion in section on the line 1- and another portion on the-line 2-;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the gear casing showing the sameand some of the interior parts cut away;

Y Fig. l is a diagram showing the relative positions of the axial centers of the rotating j mechanism in one housing Fig. 5 is a similar diagram ofthe same in another position;

Fig. 6 is also a similar diagram indicating said centers meeting at a common point; j l ig. is an end elevation in section on the line Moi Fig. 8;

position of the adj ustable Fig. 8 isa sectional view of Fig. l on the line l2thereof; and

Fi 9 is an end view of one of the clutch whee s showing the spring pressed ratchet halls for same in connection therewith.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and reformingv now to the same:

' The invention consists of a. construction comprised of a cylindrical housing (5) having an integral head (6) at one end thereofand which is closed at its opposite end by a circular plate (7) that is secured in place by means of bolts (8), the latter extending through the integral head and plate. The bolts used are square adjacent their heads and fit snugly through the head (6) so as not to turn therein. Castled nuts (9) on the outer ends of the bolts secure the plate (7 against the adjacent end of the housing (5). Slots (1.0) in the plate (7) through which the bolts (8) pass are so formed as to admit of the plate being adjustably turned upon its axis which is in line with the center of the housing. Attached to the outer face of the plate (7) is a counter (11) of the well known type having a series of numeral wheels (12) adapted to indicate numerically the cycles of action of the apparatus with which it is attached. The stem (13) of the counter extends through the plate (7 into the housing and has fixed thereon a double clutchwheel (14). The clutch-wheel has an outer series of recesses (15) and asimilar inner series of recesses (16), and in each series of the latter having a similar slotted lug (20). A series of compression springs (21) is arranged within the clutch-wheel for each series of balls and tend to press the respective balls against the corresponding clutchsleeves so that as the sleeve (18) is turned over toward the left hand the clutch-wheel will be moved accordingly because of the action of the spring'pressed balls (15) in the recesses (15) against the inner face of the sleeve. And, when the sleeve (18) is revolved toward the right hand, the balls (15) bearing against the innercsurface of the sleeve (18) will -be pressed against the corresponding springs so that the sleeve may move in that direction without binding. During the latter movement of the sleeve (18) the clutch-wheel (14) is held from retraction by means of the spring pressed balls (16) in the recesses (16) that bear against the inner face of the clutch-sleeve (17 there being an anchor-screw (22) that extends from the plate (7) into the slotted lug (19) to prevent movement of thesleeve.

Thus, it will be understood that as the outer sleeve (18) is moved in one direction the stem (13) of the counter will be likewise moved and as the said sleeve is moved in the opposite direction the stem will be prevented from likewise moving. In this manner the stem of the counter is progressed in one direction only accordingly as the actuating sleeve (18) is moved over toward the left hand. The action of the springs against the balls in the recesses against the inner faces of the sleeves renders the clutching action extremely delicate, the clutch-wheel being progressed accordingly with the slightest driving movement of the outer sleeve and being also held from retraction by the balls within the inner sleeve when themovement of the outer sleeve is reversed. The result of this action is that the stem (13) of the counter is progressed intermittently in one direction only and the numeral wheels actuated thereby are progressed accordingly. The stem (13) of the counter extends through the'plate (7 at a point eccentric of the center upon which the plate is adjustably turned, and therefore as said plate is adjustably turned the axial center of the stem (13) is moved along the arc (23) accordingly.

It is the intention to actuate the driving clutch-sleeve 18) accordingly as the rackbar (24) of the pump is moved by means of its cycles of action will be of a definite unit of measurement, such for example, one gallon. Well known means are ordinarily applied for the purpose and are not herein' illustrated, it being deemed 'sufiicient in showing the application of the invention by illustrating a portion of a rack-bar (24) that is customarily attached to the pump-rod and moves therewith so. that its reciprocal move ments are of the same length as the stroke of the pump. It is'essential to this invention that the stem (13) of the counter shall be moved with accuracy proportionately as the rack-bar of the pump is. moved in the discharge stroke of the pump, and owing to the adjustable variations that are occasioned in the length of the stroke of the rack-bar above referred to it is essential also that a compensating adjustment be provided for the mechanism (hereinafter described) that transmits motion from the rack-bar" to the driving clutch-sleeve (18) of the counter.

the amount of liquid discharged by the pump. With this-object in view a transmitting mechanism has been provided andap plied to the rack-bar and driving clutc sleeve (18) that is effective in transmitting the required action without lost motion, and which admits of compensating adjustments as the length of stroke of the pump is adjustably varied.

The transmitting mechanism referred to is comprised of two parts: An intermediate gear (25) which is mounted upon a stud (26) that extends from the head (6) into the housing (5), the axial center of the stud being in line with the arc (23) in which the stem (13-) of the counter moves as the plate (7) is adjustably turned; the other portion of the transmitting mechanism consists of a gearing engaging the intermediate gear.

(25) and rack-bar (24:) and being so constructed as to eliminate lost motion in its hub (28). (31) is a spring, one end (32) of which extendsthrough one tooth of the driving gear (27), and the other end (33) of l which extends through one tooth of the folupon the shaft (34) immediate y adjacent the driving pinion (35); and a torsional spring (38) having one of its ends (39) fixed to the shaft and its other end (40) engaging the follower pinion, tends to hold the latter pinion with its teeth bearing against the teeth of the intermediate gear (25) with which it is engaged, in the opposite direction to that of the driving pinion (35) which 1s also in mesh with the intermediate A y rom projection (41) extending outwar the head (6) and having a bushin (42) therein serves as a bearing for the hu (28), and the hub is held within its bearing by means of a groove (43), made in the hub, and a pin (44) that extends through the projection and groove, the groove being annular rotation of the hub is not hindered but endwise movement thereof is prevented. As the gear (27) is actuated by the rack-bar (24) the faces (45) of its teeth bear against Likewise the driving pinion (36) and follower pinion (37) are held respectively with their teeth against the opposite faces of the teeth of the intermediate gear (25) owing to the torsional action of the spring (38), and thus said gear is actuatedwith minute precision as the hub is revolved. A wrist-pin (49) projects from the face of the intermediate gear (25) eccentric of its center and extends into the slotted lug (20) of the driving clutch-sleeve'(18) so that as the intermediate gear is oscillated the clutchsleeve is likewise moved and the counter ac-' cordingly actuated. By adjustably shifting the plate (7) that carries the counter and clutch mechanism, the stem (13) of the counter becomes accordingly shifted relative to the stud (26) upon which the intermediate gear rotates, so that the consequent oscillations of the clutch-sleeve (18) are differential to more or less extent and the counter is progressed more or less accordingly. The

diagrams, (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) are made to illustrate several of the relative positions of the centers of the counter stem, and stud upon which the intermediate gear rotates.

In Fig. 6 the centers of the stem and stud are in alinement at the intersection of the are (23) and horizontal line (23), and the center upon which the plate (7) is adjustably oscillated is at the intersection of the horizontalline (23') and the perpendicular line (23"). When in this position, the centers of the stem and stud being in alinement, the clutch-sleeve (18) becomes uni- 1 formly actuated with the intermediate gear; in Figs. 4 and 5 the center of the stud (26), being stationary, remains at the intersection of the-arc (23) and horizontal line (23), while the center of the stem in Fig. 4 lies above the center of the stud at the intersection of the are (23) and lines (23') drawn above, and in Fig. 5 the center of the stem is at the intersection of the are (23) and the lines (23) beneath the intersection of the are (23) and horizontal line (23). Thus the axial center of the counter. may be adjustably shifted by turning the plate (7) as occasion may arise in order to compensate for any adjustable variations made in the stroke of the pump so that the consequent movement of the counter will correspond precisely with the quantative discharge of the pump. It is contemplated that the stem of the counter shall turn one-half revolution precisely upon each discharge stroke of the pump or complete upward movement of the rack-bar. Therefore when the rack-bar has been adjustably limited in the usualmanner, so that the discharge of the pump is of the desired quantity unit of measurement, the plate (7 is adjustably shifted to a position such as will result in the proper progression of the stem through the medium of the gearing and clutch-mechanism accordingly as the dischargestroke of the pump takes place.

The invention is comprised of the housing, the counter adjustably mounted in connection therewith, the clutch-mechanism that actuates the counter located in the housing, the intermediate gear also located within the housing and the gear mechanism having ad tuated relation with the rack-bar of the;

combination with a pumping means having a rack-bar by which the same is actuated, a counter having a stem for actuating the same, a clutchmechanism on the stem for actuating it in one direction and holding the same from retracting, and a rotatablegear mechanism actuated by the rack-bar of the pump and being adapted to drive the clutch mechanism.

'2. In combination with a rack-bar-driven pumping mechanism, a counter, means to actuate the counter including a clutch mechanism and intermediate gear,'a driving gear in actuated relation with the rack-bar of the pumpipg mechanism, a pinion rotatably movable with the driving gear and engaging in mesh with the intermediate gear; and means in operative relation with the driving gear and pinion for holding the teeth thereof constantly in close contact with the teeth of the rack-bar and intermediate gear respectively.

3. In combination with a rack-bar, a counting mechanism including means for progressing the same andalso a gear, a driving gear in actuated relation with the rack-bar, and having means in connection therewith for actuating the former gear, and-means for preventing back-lash between the rackbar, driving gear and the former gear.

l. In combination with arack-bar-driven pumping mechanism, a counter, a clutch mechanism for actuating the counter, a gear having driving relation with the clutch mechanism, the axis of the gear being normally in alinement with the axis of the clutch-mechanism, and means for adjust-- ably shifting the axis of the clutch-mechanism relative to the axis of the intermediate gear, there being means in connection"with the rack-bar of the pumping mechanism and said gear for the transmission of movement from the former to the latter.

5. In combination with a rack-bar-actuated pumping mechanism, a housing, a plate adapted to be adjusted rotatively upon its axial center and secured to the housing, a

counter supported by the plate and hav-.

ing a stem for actuating the same extending through the plate eccentric of the axial center thereof, a clutch mechanism on the stem for progressing the same rotatively and preventing the same from retraction, and a gear within the housing, the axial center of which is in line with the axis of the stem when the plate is in its initial position, said gear having a sliding connection with the clutch mechanism for actuating the same, there being means in connection With the rack-bar of the pumping mechanism and said gear for the transmission of movement from the former to the latter.

6. In combination with a rack-bar-actuated pumping mechanism, a counter, a

ratchet mechanism in connection with the having actuating relationwith the clutch-.

mechanism, a driving gear actuated by the rack-bar, a looselymounted follower: gear also in mesh with the rack-bar, a spring engaging the driving gear and follower tending to hold the teeth of said gears oppositely in contact with the opposite faces of the teeth of the rack-bar respectively, a pinion rotatively movable with the driving gear and engaging the intermediate gear, a loose pinion mounted to rotate upon an axial center common with the former pinion, and a torsional spring engaging the loose pinion and adapted to cause the teeth of the loose pinion to bear against the teeth of the intermediate gear oppositely to that of the former pinion. v

7. In combination with a rack-bar-driven pumping mechanism, a counter, means. for actuating the counter. including a clutch mechanism and intermediate gear, a shaft, a

driving gear actuated by the rack-bar adapted to rotate the shaft, a follower gear loosely mounted upon an axis common with the driving gear, a spring in connection with the driving gear and follower tending to hold the teeth of said gear and follower in contact with the opposite faces of the teeth mounted upon the shaft and meshing with i the intermediate gear, one of which isadapted to move with the driving gear, and a torsional spring fixed atone end to the shaft and having engagement at its other end with the other of said pinions and tending to hold the same so that its teeth bear oppositely against the teeth of the intermediate gear to that of the former pinion. p

8. In combination witha rack-bar actuated pumping mechanism, a counter having a driving stem and adjustably mounted, a clutch-mechanism for actuating the-counter, an intermediate gear adapted to rotate upon a fixed center and having driving relationwith the clutch-mechanism, a driving gear 0f the rack-bar respectively, two pinions actuated by the rack-bar, a pinion movable 1 ber, a toothed driven member, a rotatable hub, a gear rigidly fixed on the hub and meshing with the driving member, another gear loosely mounted upon the hub also meshing with the driving member, a take-up spring in connection with said gears, a pinion in fixed relation with the hub and en- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature gaged with the driven member, a second in presence of two witnesses. pinion loosely mounted in alinement with v LINNAEUS E. BAKER. the former pinion and also engaged with the Witnesses:

5 driven member, and a take-up spring for the CARROLL L. MERRIMAN,

' latter pinion. A. D. HEATH. 

